[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 85 (Thursday, May 22, 2008)]
[Senate]
[Page S4797]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]

      By Mr. SMITH (for himself and Mrs. Feinstein):
  S. 3057. A bill to amend title 37, Unite States Code, to provide a 
special displacement allowance for members of the uniformed services 
without dependents, to provide for an annual percentage increase in the 
amount of the family separation allowance for members of the uniformed 
services, and for other purposes; to the Committee on Armed Services.
  Mr SMITH. Mr. President, I rise today to honor our Nation's veterans 
and their families. As we approach Memorial Day and reflect upon the 
countless sacrifices of our service men and women, we must also take a 
moment and remember our military families. These families have 
shouldered the burden of our military engagements, going extended 
periods, sometimes years, without seeing their spouse, their mother, or 
their father. To help alleviate this burden, Senator Feinstein and I 
are introducing the Military Family Separation Benefit Enhancement Act.
  The Military Family Separation Benefit Enhancement Act would peg the 
Family Separation Allowance to the Consumer Price Index, allowing for 
increases in the benefit, providing some additional relief to military 
families separated by deployments. The Family Separation Allowance is a 
benefit awarded to our military families when a service man or woman 
with dependents is deployed overseas for 30 days or more. The current 
amount of the Family Separation Allowance is only $250, which does not 
have much purchasing power in these days of high fuel and food prices. 
The Family Separation Allowance remains at $250, regardless of economic 
conditions.
  When a service member is deployed, a family experiences new and 
unexpected costs. Oftentimes, the deployed service member is a vital 
part of a household, helping to raise children, perform various 
community services and complete chores around the house. Therefore, 
many of our military families are forced to seek additional help. 
Families must pay for extra child care or for a lawn care service, 
tasks that often are the deployed service member's responsibility.
  Pegging the Family Separation Allowance to the Consumer Price Index 
will better reflect the economic burdens our military families 
encounter. The FSA will not be stuck at $250 a month when fuel costs 
are skyrocketing and food prices continue to rise.
  The Military Family Separation Benefit Enhancement Act also creates a 
new Family Separation Allowance for those service members who do not 
have dependents. Just because a service member does not have dependents 
does not mean he or she will not need help at home while overseas. Many 
still need help maintaining their lawn, ensuring the upkeep of their 
house, or providing for the storage of their car.
  Our bill is a means to help our military families and those who 
serve. Deploying overseas is a difficult adjustment for our military 
families and this legislation will provide some relief.
  I ask my colleagues to join Senator Feinstein and me to pass the 
Military Family Separation Benefit Enhancement Act.
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